Background and Rationale:

Global attention has shifted to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which entails ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages” (goal 3.8) as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Subsequently, many countries have made commitments to support progress toward UHC. It has also been realized that UHC requires policy actions in a complex and increasingly multi-sectoral arena, with legitimate role-bearers ranging from ministries of; Health, Finance, Education, Local Government, Labour Gender and Social Development and among development partners, private sector and civil society organizations and media.

Overall Aim:

To critically examine the current health financing systems and policies for advancing UHC and systems development in Uganda and other low and middle income countries so as to inform strategies that are geared at achieving UHC in the region.

Specific Objectives:

To share experiences, reflections and evidence (both national and international) to guide national financing choices and strategies for advancing the UHC agenda and to build resilient health systems that can sustain this agenda.

To build awareness among stakeholders on the priority and plausible financing approaches for leveraging investments towards UHC in these countries.

To advocate for ways to optimize domestic financing and other sources to advance UHC, systems resilience and improve health outcomes.

Feasible innovations and strategies for financing UHC in low and middle income countries.

The symposium will increase awareness of required efforts and initiatives for financing UHC

Expected Participants:

The symposium will draw participation from technical and political players in the development sectors that have influence on health outcomes –both public and private. It is also intended to provide space for sharing lessons across low and middle-income countries about how to operationalise UHC and the SDGs in the region. Participant profiles can be viewed HERE